The fast growing e-commerce sector is now making a mark in Deepavali celebrations too. There has been significant increase in online sales of fire crackers.
One can buy crackers of different varieties and packs from portals of biggies like Amazon, as well as exclusive cracker dealers, who are also eyeing a pie in the online fireworks business.
“There has been more than 100 per cent growth in online sale of crackers this year, compared to the previous year,” V Kumaran, who runs Sivakasi Crackers Online, told BusinessLine . The Sivakasi-based businessman has been in this segment for the last four years. “However, this year there has been tremendous increase in sales to the tune of more than 100 per cent,” he said.
Buyer pattern The profile of buyers shows an interesting pattern. “In addition to the increasing number of individuals, we have been witnessing bulk sales. Wholesale distributors are also approaching us,” said V Praveen Kumar, a national crackers distributor, with presence across major cities. Online sales are perceptibly higher in Mumbai and Tamil Nadu (Chennai and other select cities), followed by Bengaluru and Hyderabad, says Kumar, who uses online sales platform Quikr for sourcing orders. It is the younger IT professionals, who constitute most of the online buyers.
“I found it easier to order on Amazon than to physically go and bargain in the shops. Some discounts are also being offered online,” said T Navin Kumar, a software professional working for Infosys. The minimum online order size is in the range of ₹1,500 to ₹2,500.
Traditional sellers are a bit concerned, but not too worried. “Online sales are fine, but people also buy from traditional shops depending on their background,” says Sajov from GW Khamkar Fire Works, one of the oldest cracker sellers in Mumbai.
Separate arrangements have been made for delivery of crackers, as some couriers have safety issues in shipping them.
Chinese-made crackers Chinese crackers are not finding big favour this year. Most of the States have imposed restrictions on sound beyond 125 decibels, and Chinese crackers fall into this category.
Court order The recent Supreme Court order about not using high decibel volume crackers between 10 pm and 6 am is also adversely impacting sales of goods from China, according to Kumaran.
But in northern States, the situation is a little different and sales of Chinese varieties are happening, say dealers.
On the pricing front, you will have to spend about 10 to 15 per cent higher than last year. The prices of ‘A’ grade manufactures have almost been stable, but the products of B and C grade companies have gone up, as per information from dealers.